The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-05-13
Progress of Revenue Reform

1t is significant. says the New York star,
that the moneyed men Of the country, the
bankers, bondhol,iers and capitalists, are be-
ginning to concern themselves very anXiously
as to the REDUCTION Of the sulpluS. When the
great struggle for the abolition Of excessive
taxation first began. it was antagoniZed almost
without exception by tie real financial corpo-
rations and magnates. TIE conduct OF that
gallant and patriotic fight was relegated to a
few devoted enthusiasts in Congress, TO
whom their opponents contemptuously refer
red as free traders, fanatics, etc, etc.
But the movement assumed definite form.
1t gathered strength and gained accessions.-
Year after year, although thwarted at the
preceding session by combination of the Re
pubicans with the Randall Democrats, these
undaunted men returned to the charge,
stronger, more confident and more resolute
after each encounter, and steadily drawing
nearer TO victory. In 1884 the party leaders
ceased to deny or belittle the danger involy-
ed in perpetuation of oppressive and unnec-
essary taxes, and in fact proclaimed the pur-
pose of the Democracy to avert that danger
by summary and radical expedents. This
declaration entered Into the platform Of that
year. 1t constituted 4 part: and large part,
of the pledge upon the faith Of which the
country voted the Democratic party into pow
er, and it still remains sacred compact be-
tween that party and the people, compact
thus far unfuflled
Now, however, the gravity of the question
is receiving wider and more serious recogni-
ton. The accumulation Of a surplus in the
Treasury is no longer one of those distant
evils visible only to the inspired ken of seers ::
il is present, it is iminent, and its forbidding
shadow falls upon and chlls such tremen-
dous interests as to quicken the pulse of ev-
cry intelligent observer. Since the adjourn
ment of the last Congress, in both sessions OF
which the handful of Democratic renegades
led by Mr.. Randall helped the Republicans to
discredit their party before the country,
thoughtful men in every wa TX of life have be-
gun to realize that crisis of my sterious i'm
port and incalculable outcome is involved in
the continued withdrawal from circulation OF
vast sums wrung from the people by needless
taxation and boarded in the Treasury in en-
cess of any legitimate demand and beyond the
reach of useful employment.
Solictude is no longer confined to the So
called free trade agitatOrs. Bankers, capital
lists, fnanciers, are all asking themselves how
this is to end and what can be done to arrest
the peril. The very men who were once Sc
cmely council upon TO give character and
substance to the opposition have now become
the cOadjutors of The revenue reform leaders
10 the extent of admitting that there is grave
peril in the situation, and that some remedy
for it mnst be devised. Indeed, the Demo
cratic party must inevitably come TO be the
party of the solid interests of the country, for
il is the only party that has had the wisdom
to perceive the danger and the courage 10 con
front it. A great change is taking place in
public opinion--in intelligent public opinion.
In this struggle for reduction Of taxation
the Democratic party is drawing TO itself all
That is substantial and inhue ntial in lie ranks
OF its opponents.